It always interests me to know how other owners take care of their cars. With the age (and lets face it, relatively low economic value) of our cars, getting them repaired competently for a reasonable price is kind of difficult. Since our Berettas and Corsicas (and Tempests for those of us further North) span GM OBD1, 1.5 (hate, hate, hate), AND OBD2, we really do have a wealth of variety.

So, for those of us who either do our own repairs, or at least want to know what is going on with our fine four-fendered friends before simply handing our keys and credit-cards to someone with a wrench, the question for today is, how do you scan your cars? What diagnostic tools do you use?

Always budget-minded, like my cars, some of my tools are, um, 'vintage'. I own a Snap-On 'Brick', old MT2500 series. Capable of OBD 1-2, it is still versatile. With the add-on cartridges I have, I am limited to generic OBD2 past 2001. Otherwise, I can get pretty specific for most vehicles I am likely to see. I no longer do much with European cars, and have never purchased any of those modules for my 'Brick'. I also have an Innova OBD 2 generic scanner, and the OBD 1 connection kit as well, but it is very limited on OBD 1 -i.e., no data, just codes. I also have an ELM 327 to connect my laptop to an OBD 2 vehicle, and have been happy with it for what it is. The graphing options are nice with some of the available software, and for $14 I couldn't go wrong. Some of this was bought as a down-graded set to cheaply replace the extensive tools that were stolen about five years ago. Oh, and lets not forget one of the ultimate diagnostic tools, the well-rounded and ever utilitarian paper clip!

What other tools have been chosen, and why? What features do you use most?

Last edited by Rettax3 on Sun Feb 25, 2018 1:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

I used the "APU1" from moates.net with tuner pro and logging files for my OBD1 GM cars.Works with laptop over USB.

I used the "Blue Driver" for all 1996 and up OBD2 and newer cars.Work with my android phone over Bluetooth.Can do a very large range of functions and tests and clearing codes and stuff.Vin scan also for recall checks and other stuff.Lots of live data too.I believe it also has free app updates for life.

I have a couple other scanners but these two options always worked the best for me

I also have the Moates APU1 Autoprom that I use with TunerPro RT. It allows you to datalog and read codes as well as read and burn tunes on the chip.

Bapsu your car is obd1, so you can get just a cheap cable to read information via a laptop, or you can buy more expensive devices to be able to program data as well. Moates.net has descriptions of their products online.

Yah my APU1 also can emulate and read/write rom files to the chips.I forgot there is probably a lesser expensive version that can read codes and data log without the chip stuff but I never looked into those.

Bapsu wrote:So just the obd1 cable to usb/something similar is enough for datalogging? What sw I need?

What kind of things can be programmed in these ecus?

For just the cable I'm not sure.

With the full APU1 the ECM can be programmed. Spark and fuel tables, fan cycle settings, etc. This uses Tuner Pro RT software. My APU1 came with it with I got mine.Factory chips cannot be reflashed. The 27SF512 chip is used as it can be reflashed. And a little adapter thing is plugged into the eeprom slot.

If you email moates.net they can answer more detailed questions about their products.